Thursday, March 5, 2009

Benign Tumors Of The Uterus

Benign Tumors Of The Uterus

These often appear localized on the outside surface of the uterus or may be attached to the outside surface by a pedicle. Submucosal (submucous) fibroids are located inside the uterine cavity beneath the lining of the uterus. Intramural fibroids are located within the muscular wall of the uterus. Race also appears to play a role. Women of African descent are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than women of other races. Pregnancy and taking oral contraceptives both decrease the likelihood that fibroids will develop

fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs. Large fibroids can cause: Due to pressure, Due to pelvic pain, Due to pressure on the bladder with frequent or even obstructed urination, and Due to pressure on the rectum they can cause heavy periods, painful periods, prolonged periods or spotting between menses.

Rapid growth is a reason to watch more carefully, since a rare cancerous form of fibroid (referred to as a leiomyosarcoma) .Due to pressure on the rectum they can cause heavy periods. It is usually a fast-growing tumor, and it cannot be differentiated from a benign fibroid by ultrasound and If fibroids grow large enough, the surgery to remove them can become more difficult and risky. Occasionally, fibroids are the cause of recurrent miscarriages.

CT scans can also play a role in diagnosing fibroids, but ultrasound is the simplest, cheapest, and almost without question the best technique for imaging the pelvis. This technique uses small beads of a compound called polyvinyl alcohol, which are injected through a catheter into the arteries that feed the fibroid. These beads obstruct the blood supply to the fibroid and starve it of blood and oxygen.

Drugs are sometimes known as the "morning-after pill" is also used to terminate early pregnancy. Treatment with mifepristone also reduced the bleeding associated with fibroids drug causes menstruation to cease. Low dose formulations of oral contraceptives are also sometimes given to treat the abnormal bleeding associated with fibroids; danazol does not appear to shrink the size of fibroids